donor response

Penelope Burk’s second edition of Donor-Centered Fundraising was released this fall, coincidentally, the same year that Crazy Rich Asians, a movie based on the book by Kevin Kwan, hit the big screen. Burk quotes from Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super-Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else by Chrystia Freeland that in 1975, the [...]

Supporters of nonprofit organizations have many questions when faced with a specific need, challenge or opportunity in a community. The big question, especially in the wake of natural disasters such as the hurricanes of the recent weeks, is "What happens next?".

After only 10 minutes into the conversation, the prospect said, “I am satisfied that you have met all the requirements for fundraising success that I requested several months ago. I’m ready to sign and pledge $2 million dollars to this effort.” The two solicitors looked at each other in disbelief. Carefully scripted, they were [...]

By Jarrad Howard, Campaign Strategy Study Coordinator Many times, your organization’s website is what makes your first impression. More and more, donors are going to websites before ever having spoken to anyone, which means your website is the most prolific representation you have. It also acts as a business card - a quick and efficient [...]

By Katie MacKenzie, Project Coordinator Stewardship. In the development world we’ve all heard of it, we all discuss it, and we all agree it is important. However, so often I see some of the clients with which I work think that a simple Thank You note is just that, a simple note. While I don’t [...]

By Project Manager, Heather Thornton Recently, my teenage cousin came for a short visit. She is an amazing kid – smart, funny, engaging…so much so that I sometimes forget I am dealing with a 15-year old and not an older, more mature person. I would say that she represents a fairly typical Gen Zer, [...]

“I’d like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love…I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony…” I was reminded of those lines from a 1971 Coca-Cola ad as I read an article in Planned Giving Today about ‘Leave A Legacy.’ Now, I know I’m showing my age [...]

By Mark Belcher, Partner I’m sure you read the title and thought to yourself, “That’s all I do!” In today’s environment of increasing competition for funding, I’ve been thinking about the constituency beyond Alumni, donors, foundations and corporations and would encourage you to do the same. Many times we leave important dollars on the table [...]

I finally gave in! Over the holidays, I sat down to view Disney’s animated hit movie “Frozen” in the comfort and privacy of my own home. My youngest great-niece convinced me that it would be worth my time – and it was! In fact, I’ve watched it two other times since. For nearly a year [...]